Abdominal truss



Feb. 26 1963 H. A. SCHOLZ 3,078,844

ABDOMINAL VTRUSS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 28. 1960 INVENTOR HARVEY A. SCHOLZ BY Feb. 26, 1963 H. A. SCHOLZ 3,073,844

- ABDOMINAL muss Filed Oct. 28. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 r-ll FIG. 7

INVENTOR HARVEY A. SCHOLZ ATTORNEYS 3,078,844 ABDQMINAL TRUSS Harvey A. Schulz, 3725 Bamberger Ave., St. Louis, Mo. Filed Oct. 28, 1960, Ser. No. 65,744 3 Claims. (Cl. 128-99) This invention relates to an abdominal truss or hernia support, and particularly to an abdominal truss that has means for applying an upward, as well as an inward pressure against the human body.

A hernia or rupture is a not uncommon occurrence in the human body. Some hernias are corrected by surgery. However, many persons, for one reason or another, do not undergo surgery, and for these persons, a support of some form must be worn. The present invention provides a support that incorporates significant improvements heretofore unavailable in a truss.

In general, there are two forms of abdominal supports. One is an elastic band arrangement. This form of support has an elastic waist belt from which depend two elastic leg bands. Each of the leg bands must be tight ened if inward pressure is to be increased. What additionally occurs with increased inward pressure is increased downward pressure that aids rather than counteracts the tendency of a hernia to drop. Also, any tightening of the leg bands (which is necessary for some holding support) increases the discomfort that accompanies the continual chafing of leg movement past the leg bands. In addition, if the waist belt is tightened to increase the inward pressure, blood circulation is cut ofi to such an extent that whole sections of the body become numb. While the elastic band support is quite common, it suffers from the disadvantages of being extremely uncomfortable. Aside from the fact that the band type of support is subject to failure because it tends to lose its elasticity, its side effects are that it can cause chafing, can slip, and is unsanitary. A very important defect in the elastic band type of support is that it applies pressure only inward. Therefore, one of the special phenomona of ruptures, which is that they tend to drop, cannot be corrected by the band type of support.

A second type of abdominal truss, that is in common use, is one that employs a relatively stiff frame or support member in place of the elastic band means. The frame member is usually in the form of a rod bent in a half loop with a pad attached to each end of the rod. The rod is pre-sprung so that one pad presses against the back of a human body and the other pad presses against the ruptured area in front. While the rigid type of abdominal truss does not suffer from the chafing and sanitary defects of the elastic band type, it nevertheless has defects. First of all, the frame type of support heretofore available, applies only inward pressure. There is no upward pressure to prevent the hernia from dropping. Sec ondly, the rigidly positioned pad hinders the free movement of the wearer, particularly movement requiring bending at the waist. In other words, when a person wearing one of these conventional trusses stoops or sits, the edge of the pad will dig into his body since it is not free to follow the motion of his body. Rather, it is held in place by the pad at the back. An additional defect is that the frame type supports are not adjustable for different sized persons or different locations of hernias.

While the present hernia support or abdominal truss is of the rigid frame type and therefore avoids the disadvantages of the elastic band type, it also incorporates certain improvements that circumvent the disadvantages of the conventional rigid frame type of support. Rigid rod mounting means are included for the present hernia support, but the pads are not mounted directly to the rod means. Instead, they are mounted in such a way that States Patent they can rotate about the axis of the rod means. The pad that presses against the back of the anatomy is freely rotatable whereas the pad that presses against the ruptured area has a torsion spring connection between it and the rod means. By simply twisting the front pad, the torsion spring can be wound in either direction to provide either upward or downward pressure in addition to the inward pressure. Consequently, the hernia support is capable of applying that upward pressure that will counteract the tendency of a hernia to drop. -(In fewer cases, downward, rather than upward, pressure is needed. Either is possible with the present truss according to the direction the spring is wound.)

The front pad is free to follow the motion of the body as it bends because the pad is not rigidly fixed to the frame. In addition, the pressure effect of the torsion spring is not lost with motion of the body so that there is always an upward supporting pressure as well as the conventional inward pressure.

Because of the way that it is mounted, the torsion spring acts as a shock absorber between the rod means and the pad to which it is connected. Thus, one end of the torsion spring is welded to a plate in the center'of the pad, while the other end of the torsion spring is adjustably fastened to the rod means. Therefore, the only thing that holds the pad to the rod is the relatively resilient torsion spring, and when shock forces are applied to the rod means, they are absorbed by the torsion spring and are not carried over to the pad.

Another important feature of the invention is the fact that each pad can be adjusted on the rod means so that the pads can be precisely positioned according to the size of the body and the position of the affected area.

From the foregoing, important objects of the invention are the provision of an abdominal truss having relatively rigid rod means for supporting forward and rearward pads with the forward pad having means for causing the application of pressure selectively upwardly or downwardly, as well as inwardly; the provision of a truss that applies continual upward and inward pressure regardless of the body movement of the wearer; the provision of shock absorber means between the rod means and the forward pad; and the provision of means for adjusting the position of the pads along the length of the rod means.

An important object of the invention is the provision of a truss having a pad that can apply upward or downward pressure wherein the magnitude of the pressure can be readily selected by the wearer.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an abdominal truss having support means for pressing a pad against a ruptured area and wherein the truss follows the movement of the body rather than remainin g rigidly fixed in one position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a hernia support or abdominal truss wherein a plurality of spring biased pads can be mounted on a single rod with each pad having its own upward or downward pressure applying means and wherein each of the pressure applying means is selectively adjustable in magnitude.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of an abdominal truss having forward and rearward pads attached to a frame, each pad incorporating a configuration for concentrating the pressure of the truss and for providing air space between the pad and the wearer.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing a portion of a human body with an abdominal truss incorporating J the principles of the invention typically positioned about the body;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view illustrating the principal form of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view showing the truss with two pads mounted on a rod for appiying pressure to separate areas of the body;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the invention wherein the two pads are mounted on separate rods;

FIGURE 5 is a view in section taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a view in section taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is a view in section taken along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 8 is a view in section taken along the line 8-8 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 9 is a view in section taken along the line 9-9 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 10 is a view in section taken along the line 10-10 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 11 is a view in section taken along the line 11-11 of FIGURE 7.

Referring now to the drawings, the hernia support 20 comprises a rod 21 that is bent in a partial loop with its ends 22 and 23 opposite one another. A rubber sleeve 24 or the like, covers the rod 21 to protect the wearer against unnecessary discomfort.

Adjustably supported on the end 22 of the rod 21 is a pad assembly 25. The internal structure of the pad assembly 25 comprises a pair of opposed plates 26 and 27 welded together, as illustrated in FIGURE 5, and the central positions 28 and 29 of the plates 26 and 27, respectively, are bent to form a cylindrically shaped recess 30, the end 31 of which terminates the recess 30 just short of the edge of the plates 26 and 27. The end 22 of the rod 21 may be adjustably positioned within the recess 39 and can project into the recess 30 as far as the ends 31 will allow.

Depending radially outward from the cylindrical recess 30 are a pair of opposed hollow ribs 32. A torsion spring 33 is loosely fitted over the end 22 of the rod 21, and within the cylindrical recess 30. One end 34 of the torsion spring 33 projects into one of the hollow ribs 32 where it is fixed by solder 35. The other end 36 of the torsion spring 33 projects out of the cylindrical recess 30 and is fixed to an adjusting sleeve 37 by a setscrew 38.

The sleeve 37 is hollow. There is a setscrew 39 through the adjusting sleeve 37 for fixing the sleeve at any of a plurality of positions to the bar 21. The length of the cylindrical recess 36 determines the amount of adjustment in length of the support that can be made between the rod and the pad assembly 25. (There is a similar length adjustment between the rod and the rear pad to be described.) In addition, the pad assembly 25 may be set in any rotative position before the setscrew 39 is tightened, thereby providing a variation in the force that the torsion spring exerts upon the pad assembly 25 where that pad has been twisted relative to the rod 21.

The plates 26 and 27 are covered by a pad 40 of foam rubber or similar resilient substance. The pad 40 is molded onto the plates, and there are holes 41 through the plates for permitting the material to flow during the molding process for greater bonding. The pad 40 is molded with an annular depressed area 43 surrounding a central projecting area 44. The annular depressed area 43 is positioned approximately threeeighths of an inch inward from the outer periphery of the pad 49, although the exact position is not critical, and the depressed area 43 blends smoothly into the projecting area 44. The projecting area 44 provides an area of concentrated pressure application when the pad t 4-0 is pressed against the human body. The depressed annular portion 43 of the pad 40 is a significant feature in the shape because it provides an air space between the pad and human body to permit a cooling circulation of air.

The end 23 of the rod 21 is threaded so that it can be screwed into the tapped hole 47 that extends within a shaft 48. The hole 47 extends through one end of the shaft 48 and terminates short of the opposite end There is a slit 50 in the end 49.

A single plate 51 is connected to the shaft 48. To provide this connection, the plate 51 has a central opening 52 in it and a slit 53 is cut through the metal plate 51 so that a band 54 can be bent outwardly from one side of the plate 51. The plate itself is bent outwardly from the other side at 55 so that between the band 54 and the portion 55, a passage 56 for the shaft 48 is defined. The shaft 48 extends through the passage 56 and past the opening 52, and the part of the plate 51 on the opposite side of the opening 52 from the band 54 is positioned within the slot 50. A rivet 58 fixes the shaft 48 to the plate 51.

A pad 6% is molded onto the plate 51 and has an annular depressed area 61 suirounding a projecting area 62 similar to the corresponding areas formed in the pad 42. Because the plate 51 is only a single thickness, the pad can be relatively thin, and will not show up as an outline through the wearers clothing. It has been found that the rear pad assembly is the one that is usually outlined Whereas the front pad is not detectable. Hence, the use of a single plate 51 and a thinner rear pad 60 is more than mere choice.

Because the shaft 48 is threaded onto the end 23 of the rod 21, the angular position of the pad 60 can be easily adjusted by the wearer of the support. A slight rotation of the pad 60 about the rod 21 will not produce a significant change in the over-all length of the support, but the length can be changed by continued rotation of the pad 60 along the ends 23 of the rod 21. Therefore, between the pads 40 and 60, the over-all length of the truss 20 can be varied over a relatively wide range of values.

The abdominal support that has been described is quite simple and easy to use in spite of its flexibility and effectiveness. The wearer first determines the length of the truss by threading the pads 40 and 60 in one direction or the other, relative to the rod 21. Of course, before the pad 40 can be adjusted, the set-screw 39 must be loosened. Therefore, ordinarily, the rear pad 69 will be the first one to be adjusted.

When the proper length has been obtained, the rear pad 60 is adjusted for angular position. This adjustment may be done by simply placing the support with the pad 60 against the back of the body of the wearer to which it will automatically adjust as the rod 21 is bent about the wearers body.

The front pad assembly 25 exerts inward pressure because of the spring force of the rod 21. This spring force can be adjusted by manual bending of the rod. In addition, as has been described, the front pad assembly 25 is capable of exerting upward or downward force. The force required will usually be an upward force to counteract the tendency of a hernia to drop, but, in either case, the proper upward or downward force is provided by rotation of the pad assembly 25. Rotation in one direction will wind the torsion spring 33 to exert upward pressure, whereas rotation in the other direction will produce a reversed bias of the torsion spring 33 for downward pressure. The degree of upward or downward pressure will, of course, depend upon the number of times the pad assembly 25 is rotated. Also, for any given position of the pad 25, with an accompanying force of the spring 33, the latter force can be adjusted by rotation of the adjusting sleeve 37 about the rod 21.

The pad 25 will remain in position against the body even during the various bending movements of the body because of its rotatable connection relative to the rod 21. As a matter of fact, when the wearer bends at his waist, the rod 21 will bend with him, but will rotate relative to both the forward and rearward pads.

A certain amount of jarring is inevitable. Nevertheless, contrary to the effects in the prior art of abdominal supports, the force of an impact against the rod 21, while it will be partially felt through the rear pad 60, will be absorbed at the front of the support by the torsion spring 33. Therefore, uncomfortable and painful jars against a ruptured area are avoided.

FIGURES 3 and illustrate a variation of the invention wherein two pad assemblies 25 and 25 are mounted to the rod 21. The numbers associated with the pad assembly 25 of FIGURES 3 and 9 are identical with those already employed because the structure and operation of this pad assembly is exactly the same as has already been described. The pad assembly 25 has been given prime numbers throughout, since practically the same structural relationships are involved. The only difference is that, instead of the cylindrical recess 30 with a closed end 31, there is provided a cylindrical recess 30 that extends through the plates 26 and 27. With the embodiment of FIGURES 3 and 9, upward or downward pressure can be separately exerted against each of a double hernia condi tion. Because the pad assemblies 25 and 25' have separate torsion springs and are separately positioned by sleeves 37 and 37, the amount of upward or downward pressure exerted by each pad is separately adjustable. This aspect of the invention is important, inasmuch as double hernias do not always involve similar corrective requirements.

FIGURES 4, 7, and 11 illustrate another variation of an abdominal truss designed to counteract the efiects of a double hernia. The princpal diflerence between the embodiment of FIGURES 4, 7 and 11 from that of FIG- URES 3 and 10 is the fact that, because the front pad assemblies 25 and 25 are each mounted to separate rods 21 and 21", each pad 25 and 25" can be adjusted to provide individual inward pressure as well as individual upward or downward pressure, as may be required for extreme double hernia variations. The pad assembly 25 of FIGURE 4 is structurally similar to the pad assembly 25 except that it is in reversed position.

The interior of the pad 60 is somewhat different from the one previously described inasmuch as there are two rods 21 and 21" connected to it. There is a shaft 79 similar to the shaft 43 except that it has a tapped hole 71 all the way through it. Two plates '72 and 73 are bent to define a hollow cylinder 74 for receiving the shaft 70, and a rivet '75 secures the shaft 70 within the cylinder '74. The direction of the threads 71 is such that rotation of the pad 60" in one direction will lengthen the over-all truss 2t), and rotation in the other direction will shorten it.

The upward or downward pressure of the pad assemblies 25 and 25" of FIGURE 4 is adjusted as has been described for the pads 25 and 25'. The additional feature of the embodiment of FIGURES 4, 7 and 11 is the fact that the rods 21 and 21" can be manually bent according to the individual inward pressure that each pad 25 and 25 is to exert against the body.

Various changes and modifications may be made within the process of this invention as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are within the scope and teaching of this invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. An abdominal truss comprising a rod formed to a partial loop with first and second ends, a back pad comprising a rigid circular plate, a hollow internally threaded shaft fastened to the plate on a diameter thereof, the shaft having a portion extending beyond the edge of the plate, a resilient cover surrounding the plate, the first end of the rod having threads on it and being threaded into the hollow shaft, a front pad comprising a pair of circular plates fastened together face to face, the pair of plates having portions along a common diameter bent away from one another to define a passage between the plates of substantially greater diameter than the diameter of the rod, the second end of the rod being received within the passage, a coil spring wound loosely about the second end of the rod and received loosely within the passage, the coil spring having a first end fastened to the pair of plates and having a second end projecting beyond the passage, a sleeve loosely surrounding the rod with a setsc-rew for locking the sleeve to the rod, the second end of the coil spring being attached to the sleeve.

2. The combination of claim 1 including a second front pad comprising a second pair of plates fastened together face to face, the second pair of plates having portions along a common diameter bent away from one another to define a second passage between the plates of substantially greater diameter than the diameter of the rod, the second end of the rod being received within the second passage, a second coil spring wound loosely about the second end of the rod and received loosely within the second passage, the second coil spring having a first end fastened to the second pair of plates and having a second end projecting beyond the second passage, a second sleeve loosely surrounding the rod with a setscrew for locking the second sleeve to the rod, the second end of the second coil spring being attached to the second sleeve.

3. An abdominal truss comprising a rod formed to a partial loop with first and second ends, a back pad comprising a rigid circular plate, a hollow internally threaded shaft fastened to the plate on a diameter thereof, a resillent cover surrounding the plate, the first end of the rod having threads on it and being threaded into the hollow shaft, a front pad comprising plate means, means on the plate means defining a passage along a diameter of the plate means, the passage being of substantially greater diameter than the diameter of the rod, the second end of the rod being received within the passage, a coil spring wound loosely about the second end of the rod and received loosely within the passage, the coil spring having a first end fastened to the plate means and having a second end projecting beyond the passage, a sleeve loosely surrounding the rod with a setscrew for locking the sleeve to the rod, the second end of the coil spring being attached to the sleeve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 365,660 Wilkinson June 28, 1887 699,095 Le Hardy Apr. 29, 1902 1,018,113 Johnston Feb. 20, 1912 1,237,667 McMillen Aug. 21, 1917 1,396,840 Higgenbotham Nov. 15, 1921 

3. AN ABDOMINAL TRUSS COMPRISING A ROD FORMED TO A PARTIAL LOOP WITH FIRST AND SECOND ENDS, A BACK PAD COMPRISING A RIGID CIRCULAR PLATE, A HOLLOW INTERNALLY THREADED SHAFT FASTENED TO THE PLATE ON A DIAMETER THEREOF, A RESILIENT COVER SURROUNDING THE PLATE, THE FIRST END OF THE ROD HAVING THREADS ON IT AND BEING THREADED INTO THE HOLLOW SHAFT, A FRONT PAD COMPRISING PLATE MEANS, MEANS ON THE PLATE MEANS DEFINING A PASSAGE ALONG A DIAMETER OF THE PLATE MEANS, THE PASSAGE BEING OF SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER DIAMETER THAN THE DIAMETER OF THE ROD, THE SECOND END OF THE ROD BEING RECEIVED WITHIN THE PASSAGE, A COIL SPRING WOUND LOOSELY ABOUT THE SECOND END OF THE ROD AND RECEIVED LOOSELY WITHIN THE PASSAGE, THE COIL SPRING HAVING A FIRST END FASTENED TO THE PLATE MEANS AND HAVING A SECOND END PROJECTING BEYOND THE PASSAGE, A SLEEVE LOOSELY SURROUNDING THE ROD WITH A SETSCREW FOR LOCKING THE SLEEVE TO THE ROD, THE SECOND END OF THE COIL SPRING BEING ATTACHED TO THE SLEEVE. 